ANS Full Form

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a portion of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) that controls the functions of the heart, lungs, pupils, kidneys, stomach and intestines. It is in charge of automatic operations like breathing, heartbeat and digestion.

“ANS” stands for “Answer.” The acronym ANS stands for “Answer” and is commonly used in text talk.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), originally known as the vegetative nervous system, is a branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls the operation of internal organs by supplying smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nerve system is a control system that governs body activities such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urine, and sexual arousal mostly automatically. The principal control mechanism for the fight-or-flight responses is this system.

Integrated reflexes from the brainstem to the spinal cord & organs control the autonomic nervous system. Control of respiration, cardiac regulation (the cardiac control centre), vasomotor activity (the vasomotor centre), and reflex behaviours like coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting are all autonomic activities. The autonomic subsystems and the peripheral nervous system are linked to these divisions, which are subsequently subdivided into further domains. The hypothalamus, which is located directly above the brain stem and receives autonomic regulatory input from the limbic system, serves as an integrator for autonomic activities.

Anatomy of the Autonomic Nervous System

The lungs, pupils, heart, blood vessels, stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, bladder, genitals and salivary, sweat and digestive glands are all supplied by the autonomic nervous system.

The autonomic nerve system is comprised of two main parts:

• Sympathetic
• Parasympathetic

When the autonomic nervous system gets information about the body and external environment, it responds by either stimulating or inhibiting body activities, which is mainly done by the sympathetic division.

Two nerve cells make up an autonomic nerve route. The brain stem or spinal cord contain one cell. Nerve fibres connect it to the other cell, which is part of a cluster of nerve cells (called an autonomic ganglion). Internal organs are connected to nerve fibres from these ganglia. The sympathetic division’s ganglia are mostly found slightly outside the spinal cord on both sides. The parasympathetic division’s ganglia are found near or in the organs they connect with.

The Autonomic Nerve System’s Function

Internal body functions controlled by the autonomic nervous system include:

• Blood pressure levels
• Rates of heart and breathing
• Digestion
• Body temperature
• Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy (thus affecting body weight)
• The electrolyte and water balance (such as sodium and calcium)
• The manufacture of bodily fluids (saliva, sweat, and tears)
• Urination
• Defecation
• Sexual reaction

Many organs are largely governed by the sympathetic or parasympathetic division. The two divisions can sometimes have opposing effects on the same organ. The sympathetic division, for example, raises blood pressure whereas the parasympathetic division lowers it. Overall, the two divisions collaborate to ensure that the body reacts to various events appropriately.

The Sympathetic Division Usually Does the Following

• The body is prepared for stressful or emergency situations—fight or flight.

As a result, the sympathetic division raises heart rate and heart contraction force while also widening (dilating) the airways to make breathing easier. It causes the body to release energy that has been stored. Muscle strength is boosted. Pupils dilate, palms sweat, and hair stands on end as a result of this division. It slows down biological functions that aren’t as critical in an emergency, such as digestion and urination.

The Parasympathetic Division Is Responsible For

• Controls the body’s processes in everyday conditions.

The parasympathetic division, in general, conserves and replenishes. It lowers blood pressure and lowers heart rate. It helps to assimilate meals and eliminate waste by stimulating the digestive tract. The energy in processed foods is used to rebuild and heal tissues.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, as well as the sections of the nervous system that govern voluntary activities and transfer sensation from the skin, are all engaged in sexual activity (somatic nervous system).

Within the autonomic nervous system, two chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) are employed to communicate:

• Acetylcholine
• Norepinephrine

Cholinergic fibres are nerve fibres that secrete acetylcholine. Adrenergic fibres are those that secrete norepinephrine. Norepinephrine has sympathetic (stimulating) actions, while acetylcholine has parasympathetic (inhibiting) ones. Acetylcholine, on the other hand, has some sympathetic effects. It can, for example, cause excessive perspiration or make hair stand on end.

Conclusion

The component of the nervous system in vertebrates that controls and regulates the internal organs without the organism’s conscious consciousness or effort is known as the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is made up of antagonistic sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system connects the brain to the internal organs via spinal nerves. When these nerves are activated, the heart rate rises, blood supply to the muscles increases, and blood flow to the skin decreases, preparing the body for stress. The cranial nerves, particularly the vagus nerve, and the lumbar spinal nerves include parasympathetic nerve fibres. These neurons promote digestive secretions while decreasing heartbeat when activated.